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Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray has spoken out over the sighting of Jobe Bellingham at the club's play-off semi-final against Luton, revealing one of his staff has a "close" relationship with the player according to Chronicle Live.

What is the latest on Jobe Bellingham to Sunderland?

The Black Cats have had an excellent campaign back in the Championship this year, with the side already storming into the play-off spots. After securing a final day win over Preston North End, the side secured their promotion chances by finishing in sixth place.

The opening leg of their semi-final tie with Luton went as well as the club could have hoped too, with Sunderland overturning a 1-0 deficit to end up 2-1 victors. Despite Elijah Adebayo firing the Hatters in front, a superb curled strike from Amad Diallo then levelled proceedings. Trai Hume then edged his side in front in the second half and Mowbray's men then managed to hold on for the win.

Whilst their potential promotion is not sealed yet – and it is still therefore unclear where they will be playing their football next season – there is already talk over potential transfer targets. One such name is Jobe Bellingham, the brother of Jude, who currently plays for Birmingham. The player is reportedly close to making a move to the Stadium of Light and was even pictured watching the club's fixture against Luton.

Now, boss Tony Mowbray has spoken to Chronicle Live about the sighting of the midfielder at the weekend and said:

"I'm the head coach, so I don't get involved too much in who we might sign. One of my coaches is very close to the Bellingham family, he talks on national telly about his big brother at Dortmund, so maybe he's come to watch a big game because his season has finished. I don't know the answer [why Bellingham was at the game]."

Should Sunderland sign Jobe Bellingham?

The Black Cats will certainly be aiming to strengthen their side regardless of the division they are in this summer and they could definitely do that by bringing in the Birmingham man.

At just 17-years-old, he is still only young but is already showing flashes of his promise much like his brother did. He's started just five games for the Blues this year but has already managed to get 80% pass accuracy, with 0.6 tackles per game and an 80% dribble success rate. It shows the player is well capable of finding a teammate, isn't afraid to get stuck in and can drive the ball forward himself – all traits that you would want from a box to box midfielder.

Bellingham is one for both now and the future and Sunderland's squad would certainly be made better if they could add the midfielder to it.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is keen to continue his rebuild at the club by making a few summer signings ahead of next season, with their strength in depth causing their levels to dip towards the end of the current campaign.

According to RMC Sport (via the Daily Mail), United have offered a contract to Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot, as his deal with the Serie A giants expires in a few weeks – and he would certainly be a solid addition to Ten Hag’s squad.

However, if no deal can be agreed between the two parties, it appears the Dutchman has a contingency plan in place which will see the Red Devils launch a move for Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder Kouadio Kone instead.

It could cost United a minimum of €40m (£35m) to secure a deal for the player, which is well within Ten Hag’s budget.

Could Man United sign Kouadio Kone this summer?

With his contract not expiring until 2025, Gladbach will be aiming to sell for as high a price as possible.

This shouldn’t deter United, however, as his potential suggests he could be worth whatever fee they pay for him.

With Gladbach currently occupying 11th spot in the Bundesliga having won just ten league matches all season, it could suggest several stars may want away this summer – of which Kone would likely be one.

Across his 29 league matches this term, Kone ranks fourth in the squad for accurate passes (39.4) and interceptions (one), fifth for key passes (0.7) and first for successful dribbles per game (1.9) underlining how important he is to the current squad, despite their disappointing season.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig lavished praise on the midfielder, labelling him as “fantastic” and a “one-man army” following an impressive performance against Bayern Munich in February, and if he can perform like that against one of the best clubs in Europe, he could slot right in at the Premier League club with ease.

His ability to take on defenders while driving forward is one of his key strengths. Across the previous 365 days, Kone ranks in the top 4% throughout Europe’s big five leagues for take-ons attempted and successful take-ons per 90, while he also ranks in the top 2% for drawing fouls with 2.59 per 90, suggesting that Ten Hag would be signing a midfielder who looks to push towards the opposition goal as often as possible.

Six years younger than Rabiot, Kone could perhaps be a better long-term option than the Frenchman, and the next few weeks will be crucial regarding any potential move.

Tottenham "could jump at the chance" to sign Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Keylor Navas from parent club Paris-Saint Germain, according to reports.

Who could Spurs sign this summer?

Spurs and chairman Daniel Levy's first priority is the appointment of a new manager to replace the departed Antonio Conte, with the north Londoners having been dealt a real blow in that regard.

Previous top target Arne Slot has now declared his intentions to remain at Feyenoord for next season, coming as a blow to Spurs who must now return to the drawing board.

Tottenham could apparently move for the likes of Luis Enrique, Ruben Amorim, Ange Postecoglou, Thomas Frank, Marco Silva, Brendan Rodgers and Graham Potter as alternatives to the Dutchman.

Amidst this chaos, and their quest to appoint a new sporting director, reports haven't stopped linking Spurs to transfer targets ahead of the looming summer window.

Long-serving goalkeeper Hugo Lloris could depart, with claims suggesting he has received jaw-dropping offers from Saudi Arabia to leave a year before his contracr expiry.

Spurs must source a replacement for the Frenchman, and one man who could fit the bill is PSG keeper Navas, who is currently on a six-month loan at Forest.

According to Foot Mercato, the Lilywhites are one of many Premier League sides who could make a move for the £198,000-per-week shot-stopper next month.

Indeed, Spurs could apparently "jump at the chance" to sign him, with Chelsea, Leicester and Brentford in the mix as well.

Navas' future, according to this report, is destined to be away from the Parc des Princes, and Levy is actively looking for a new goalkeeper – making this a potential one to watch.

Who is Keylor Navas?

The 36-year-old is a legend of his homeland, amassing over 100 caps for Costa Rica and appearing for them in major tournaments like the World Cup.

Former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has also heralded Navas in recent seasons, once calling him a "great goalkeeper" and "one of the best".

"We know about him from his time in Spain. It is clear that he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world, it is a true honour to work with him," said Pochettino said in a press conference."He is a great professional, with great sporting qualities and, after 11 days working together, we are getting to know each other and enjoying seeing what a great goalkeeper he is."

Manchester United appear to be eyeing a move for FC Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa this summer.

What’s the latest Man United transfer news involving Costa?

The Red Devils look set for a busy summer in the transfer market, despite the ongoing takeover saga at Old Trafford. Erik ten Hag previously made midfield and attacking additions his top targets ahead of his second season in charge, although defensive reinforcements also seem to be on the cards.

Napoli centre-back Kim Min-jae could be one of the first through the door in Manchester, with reports suggesting that the South Korea international’s £52m release clause will be triggered by the Red Devils hierarchy.

Another player with a big release clause is Costa, and with Ten Hag expressing his desire to sign a new goalkeeper over the coming months to challenge David de Gea, it looks as if the Porto man is another target.

Sport Witness relayed an update from A Bola regarding Costa and Manchester United in the last 48 hours.

They claimed that the Portuguese goalkeeper is set to leave Porto this summer, with the Red Devils the only club named in the update. It is believed that United “accept to pay” the player’s €75m (£65m) release clause to get him signed but don’t say if a move has been made so far.

Who is Diogo Costa?

Costa, who actually shares the same agency as former United striker Cristiano Ronaldo, is 23 years of age and appears to be at the top of his game with a career-high €45m Transfermarkt valuation.

An 11-cap Portugal international, Costa has progressed through the Porto academy and has made 109 senior appearances for the club, 41 of which have come during the 2022/23 season.

He has kept 47 clean sheets for Porto in all competitions and appears to be going from strength to strength, with journalist Karan Tejwani calling the player “absolutely sensational”.

As per WhoScored, Costa has outperformed De Gea this season when it comes to average match rating, so you could argue that he would be a shrewd signing to come in and challenge the Spaniard, provided he extends his Old Trafford contract.

United will once again be playing in four competitions next season, so bringing in another high-quality keeper in Costa could be a shrewd move, and by the looks of it, a move for the Porto man is one to watch over the coming months.

Aston Villa have been linked to a playmaker ahead of the transfer window, as Unai Emery aims to bolster his impressive side this summer.

The Spaniard has transformed the club since his arrival in October, and with European football confirmed, the Villans are the talk of the pending transfer market so far.

What’s the latest on Pedro Goncalves to Aston Villa?

As reported by Portuguese sports news outlet A Bola (via Sport Witness), Sporting CP forward Pedro Goncalves is wanted by Villa this summer.

The report states that the Midlands club have ‘advanced with approaches’ for the star, with no concrete offer made as of yet.

The 24-year-old has an €80m (£69m) release clause at Sporting, with the report claiming the club will ‘demand’ such a fee to be paid.

What could Pedro Goncalves bring to Aston Villa

Praised by scout Jacek Kulig for being "incredible", the 24-year-old has had an electrifying campaign in Portugal.

As per FBref, in a total of 44 appearances in all competitions this term, the winger has contributed to a remarkable 32 goals, scoring 18 and assisting 14 across three competitions.

In the league alone, the Chaves-born ace has scored 15 goals and assisted 11, making him an integral part of Sporting’s attack – as per Sofascore.

With such numbers alone, there’s little to debate as to why Emery is keen to get his hands on the forward, who in his Villa squad, could be his next ‘big thing’.

The Spaniard has worked with a number of hot prospects over the years, not many as prolific as Bukayo Saka, who has shot up the ranks at Arsenal since being handed his debut by Emery in north London back in 2018.

Highlighted by One Versus One as being the best player statistically in the Premier League this season, Saka has been hailed as being “dangerous” by former Arsenal legend Ian Wright for his form and rise to fame at the club.

The youngster may not have had a rise so fast had it not been for Emery’s decision to grant him the freedom to bloom, and now the Spaniard could have his next version of the ace at Villa with Goncalves.

As tricky forward players, the two are similar in how direct they are on the ball, as shown by their statistics over the past year, with the Portuguese star averaging 1.41 successful take-ons per 90 to Saka’s 1.96 per 90 – as per FBref.

The 24-year-old could be Villa’s “superstar”, as lauded by pundit Jack Collins, and would undoubtedly be a significant upgrade on the club’s present options on the left wing, with the forward humiliating Leon Bailey with his averages per 90.

While his ability to score and assist is his most impressive trait, the Sporting gem is influential in build-up play and creating chances, as shown by FBref, with him averaging 5.26 progressive passes per 90, and 4.55 shot-creating actions per 90.

To highlight the magnitude of quality that the Portuguese could bring to the current Villa squad, Bailey averages just 1.28 progressive passes and 2.84 shot-creating actions per 90 – as per FBref.

While Saka is his own player, as is Goncalves, who could present Emery with a player that could follow in the England star’s footsteps in excelling in the Premier League under the watchful eye of the Spanish coach.

Glasgow Rangers target Jose Cifuentes is set to fly in to complete a medical ahead of a move to the Scottish Premiership, according to reports.

Who is LAFC's Jose Cifuentes?

The Los Angeles FC midfielder first arrived in the Major League Soccer back in 2020 and has since gone on to make a total of 113 appearances for Steve Cherundolo’s side, but with his contract set to expire at the end of the year, he’s likely to be available for a cut-price fee this summer.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Fabrizio Romano credited the Light Blues with a strong interest in the 24-year-old and claimed that initial conversations are “going well” after Michael Beale and Co offered him an “interesting project”.

The Ecuador international also recently sparked excitement among supporters after he was spotted liking social media comments from fans welcoming him to the club despite a deal having not yet even been completed, though it sounds as if a move is pretty imminent.

Are Rangers signing Cifuentes?

According to The Herald, Cifuentes is “poised to quit” Los Angeles FC in the MLS and is “expected to jet in for a medical sooner rather than later” to finalise his switch to Rangers. Beale now “closes in” on securing his next new signing and one that will add “further strength” to the centre of the park, with all of the fresh faces set to join up with the rest of the squad in next month’s pre-season training camp over in Germany.

Could Cifuentes be a strong addition for Beale?

Rangers recently confirmed the signing of Crystal Palace goalkeeper Jack Butland so Beale will now be focusing on what other targets he can bring in next, and having been described as a “physical” central midfielder by Ecuador specialist Benedikt Duda, Cifuentes would be a fantastic addition at Ibrox.

The World Cup participant, who pockets £5k-per-week, is naturally stronger in the attacking aspect of his game, ranking in the 98th percentile for successful take-ons and turning his dribbling skills into results having posted five goal contributions (four assists and one goal) in 18 appearances across all competitions this season.

Cifuentes, however, is also good at getting stuck in defensively having won 15 of his 19 tackles made since the start of the term so loves to dispossess the opposition and win the ball back for his side. For someone who has a positive impact at both ends of the pitch, this seems like a no-brainer of a deal to complete.

West Ham United are keen on making a move for Nottingham Forest talisman Brennan Johnson this summer, according to Simon Jones of the Daily Mail.

Who is Brennan Johnson?

Johnson is one of Nottingham Forest’s own. Born in Nottingham, the forward entered the academy and hasn’t looked back ever since.

The Englishman was a crucial part of Forest’s shock promotion from the Championship in the 2021/22 season, with 19 goals in all competitions, including two in the play-offs.

Is Brennan Johnson leaving Nottingham Forest?

Whilst Johnson’s Nottingham Forest exit is far from a guarantee this summer, given their Premier League status, the Wales youngster has reportedly attracted plenty of interest.

This comes as little surprise, too, given the exceptional campaign that the "unbelievable" forward – as once hailed by former boss Sabri Lamouchi – had in the Premier League for the first time – scoring eight goals and assisting a further three to help keep Forest afloat.

Still young, Johnson has plenty of time for improvement, meaning that any club that did swoop in this summer would have themselves a player for both the present and the future.

As per Jones, West Ham are interested in the forward, though do face competition from Everton. Both clubs could battle it out for Johnson, who is reportedly valued at £40m by Forest.

The Hammers could certainly do with the goals that the Forest man could bring, that’s for sure – last summer’s £30.5m flop – Gianluca Scamacca – found the back of the net just three times in a total of 16 Premier League appearances.

Meanwhile, Michail Anontio’s form began to spiral slightly when it came to domestic action, only scoring on three occasions, despite making 33 appearances in the league last season.

Their lack of goalscorer very nearly cost the Hammers the ultimate price of relegation, before David Moyes guided them to safety. But, nonetheless, this is a precarious feeling they won’t want to face again, meaning that reinforcements are a must this summer.

With Forest’s valuation of Johnson reportedly as high as £40m, however, West Ham may need the financial boost of potentially winning the Europa Conference League if they are to consider pursuing the deal further.

Those at the London Stadium showed last summer that they are willing to break the bank for quality, though, having hit a new transfer record with the deal for Lucas Paqueta, which saw them splash out a record £51.3m.

Johnson may well find himself amongst West Ham’s most expensive signings, if the Hammers continue their interest in the forward and complete a deal.

Celtic are reportedly closing in on a deal to confirm Brendan Rodgers as the club's replacement for the recently-departed Ange Postecoglou.

The Hoops lost their Australian manager earlier this month as he opted to move down south to join Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur and majority shareholder Dermot Desmond is now in advanced talks to land his heir.

Rodgers is poised for a second spell at Parkhead after almost three years in charge of the Scottish giants before his switch to Leicester in 2019. He won seven trophies in that time and enjoyed great success that the Northern Irish tactician will now be hoping to replicate this time around.

The 50-year-old tinkerer will have the summer transfer window to bolster his side and one player he must swoop for is FC Utrecht star Anastasios Douvikas.

Who is Anastasios Douvikas?

The 23-year-old striker is a reported transfer target for the Hoops and the talented Greek marksman could come in and be the manager's next Moussa Dembele.

During Rodgers' first spell at Celtic, the French centre-forward was a prolific scorer who was able to provide a reliable source of goals over the course of two seasons.

He racked up 51 goals and 25 assists in 94 appearances in all competitions for the former Liverpool coach and these statistics show that the experienced boss was able to rely upon the ex-Fulham dynamo at the top end of the pitch.

Douvikas, who is reportedly available for a fee of £6.9m, could be Dembele 2.0 for Rodgers as his form for Utrecht in the Eredivisie suggests that the young ace has the potential to be a lethal scorer for Celtic next season.

During the 2022/23 campaign, the Greek international, who journalist Josh Bunting once hailed as "sharp", plundered 19 goals in 32 appearances.

He started 24 of those matches and his exceptional return in front of goal in the Netherlands indicates that he has the quality to replicate the former Hoops star's impressive strike rate of more than one goal every other game.

The 6 foot 1 frontman also showcased his creative ability as a centre-forward.

In the Eredivisie, Douvikas registered four assists and created seven 'big chances' for his teammates, which shows that the prolific scorer has the awareness and passing ability to open up defences for his fellow attackers to go along with his own goalscoring threat.

Therefore, Rodgers must push for the club to go through with a deal to sign the Greek ace as his statistics indicate that the Utrecht centre-forward could be the manager's new star striker.

Manchester United are reportedly plotting a move for Monaco star, Axel Disasi, with Erik ten Hag plotting alternatives to Napoli's Kim Min-jae.

What's the latest on Disasi to Man United?

According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, the Red Devils "remain keen" on signing the towering centre-back ahead of next season, with the Frenchman reportedly set to be available for a fee of around €50m (£43m) this summer if he is to leave the Ligue 1 outfit.

In a further update from Romano, the respected insider went on to add: "Axel Disasi remains concrete name in the list at Manchester United in case Kim Min-jae will end up joining Bayern as expected [next week will be crucial for Kim deal]."

As the Italian journalist noted, it would appear that Kim could be on his way to Bayern Munich over the coming weeks, despite recent reports that the South Korean brute had reached an agreement with United regarding a move to Old Trafford.

Should Man United sign Axel Disasi?

The signing of the 25-year-old could potentially allow Ten Hag and co to forget all about the aforementioned Kim, with the 6 foot 3 ace having been hailed as a "complete" and "dominant" asset by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Also previously described as a "hidden gem" by Kulig in the past, Disasi notably helped to keep nine clean sheets in 38 league games last season, while also making an impact in an attacking sense after chipping in with three goals in that time.

The former Reims titan's quality in the final third would add a real bonus to Ten Hag's side, with the four-cap international seemingly proving far more dangerous than Kim as he ranks in the top 7% among his European peers for touches in the attacking penalty area, while his Napoli counterpart ranks in just the bottom 41% in that regard.

Perhaps more importantly, however, is Disasi's superior knack for being able to play out from the back, with the one-time Paris FC man offering a real threat with his ability to spark attacks from deep as he ranks in the top 4% for both progressive passes and progressive carries – with Kim ranking in just the top 12% for both those two metrics.

The Monaco man could also prove rather dangerous for any opposition striker due to his ball-winning brilliance as he ranks in the top 14% for interceptions made, with that far greater than the Serie A-winning sensation, who ranks in just the top 27% for interceptions.

As such, while all the talk has been about Kim potentially making the move to the Theatre of Dreams this summer, Ten Hag would be wise to consider the 'hidden gem' that is Disasi instead.

Leeds United's relegation from the Premier League was a frustrating one given the talent within their squad, as it was believed that they had the requisite quality across the pitch to avoid the drop.

However, in the end, it was not standout poor performances that resulted in their Championship return, but instead questionable decisions from the hierarchy that had led to this catastrophic moment.

The sacking of Marcelo Bielsa should have ushered in a fresh new era at Elland Road, and yet in an effort to mimic what had clearly begun to go stale, the appointment of Jesse Marsch marked the beginning of the end.

He may have guided them to safety, but the season following he had to go. Javi Gracia and Sam Allardyce could not undo the havoc he had wreaked on this squad, that boasted the goalscoring talents of Rodrigo and the midfield magnificence of Tyler Adams.

Whilst the former has been destined to depart for some time, should the 49ers tempt the USA international to give them one more year, he could be the catalyst that secures them instant promotion.

Especially if they are to pair him with Harry Winks, who reports have suggested the Whites are interested in. That said, they would have to hijack any proposed deal on the table that Leicester have, with the Foxes looking set to procure his signature.

Would Harry Winks improve Leeds United?

As a safe and steady presence in the engine room, his calming demeanour could complement the all-action style of Adams.

After all, both have enjoyed solid campaigns in England at some point in their careers, with the 24-year-old American's having only come last term. His 6.98 average rating was upheld through one key pass and 3.7 tackles per game (via Sofascore), outlining his presence all over the pitch.

When given the opportunity, this touch-tackling maestro can be just as influential in attack as he can in screening the back four.

It is these qualities that suggest someone like Winks would be the perfect partner for him, with his loan spell in Italy serving to prove this. Whilst hardly outstanding in any area of the game, it is this versatility that could allow Adams to operate wherever he sees fit, knowing that his partner will cover for him.

In the Serie A, the 27-year-old Englishman maintained an 85% pass accuracy in the engine room, alongside 1.2 interceptions, 1.4 tackles, one clearance and 0.8 key passes per game, via Sofascore.

His pass accuracy would actually make him the most accurate passer within the Leeds squad from last season. Such devotion to doing the dirty work saw him deserving of the title of a "top professional", bestowed upon him by pundit Paul Robinson.

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The £8m-rated general's arrival could prove instrumental in actually tempting the former RB Leipzig star to stick around in Yorkshire, as it would be a show of faith to the importance he would hold for the new season.

After all, having been branded a "monster" in the past by former pro Alexi Lalas, with Winks beside him he could surely recapture this form in the Championship with ease.